Jana the Secret Weapon?

[BlueSkyGLW]

Had a hard time posting this, try again:

Why phone call from UConn great Breanna Stewart 'meant everything' to injured Husky Jana El Alfy

She has not played a game since arriving on campus 16 months ago, but Jana El Alfy says she will do whatever she can to help UConn women's basketball.

www.nhregister.com

 

[cancontent]

Came across this but wasn't sure it needed it's own thread. Great to see how she's giving back in Egypt.

 

[Huskee11]

Came across this but wasn't sure it needed it's own thread. Great to see how she's giving back in Egypt.

She's the tall one

 

[cgshuskie]

Jana, at 6'5" , move more like a men's NBA player; than a women's big. I expect that she will bring a new dimension of mobility and agility to the women's game. I think that Jana is a traillblazer. If she starts duncking, WATCH OUT!!! The future.....

 

[Blond D.]

I think Jana might play more like Brianna Stewart than Dolsen.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Came across this but wasn't sure it needed it's own thread. Great to see how she's giving back in Egypt.

I love it. No telling where efforts like this lead over time. I'm betting the kids went home and started following our Huskies. Next Jana in her uniform posters will start proliferating.

 

[Bone Dog]

I think Jana might play more like Brianna Stewart than Dolsen.

I guess time brings much to light. Last year I said Jana has a similar skill set to Stewie and folks jumped all over me for it, mostly pretending I’d claimed Jana was already as good as Stewie. But now that you’ve noticed it too, maybe folks can hold their heads up high and see what’s right in front of their eyes. Now it’s up to Geno to build on the talent she brings.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

All this talk about Jana puts me in mind of this time last year when folks were similarly
enthusiastic about Ice Brady even though she hadn't yet played a minute of college ball.

Then the season began, and Ice was manifestly not ready for prime time. As the season
progressed Ice improved, and by tournament time she had become a useful member of
the team.

I will be delighted if Jana, who has not played a minute of college ball, begins the season
hotter than a pistol, but I won't be overly disappointed if it takes a while for her to get going.

 

[Blond D.]

All this talk about Jana puts me in mind of this time last year when folks were similarly
enthusiastic about Ice Brady even though she hadn't yet played a minute of college ball.

Then the season began, and Ice was manifestly not ready for prime time. As the season
progressed Ice improved, and by tournament time she had become a useful member of
the team.

I will be delighted if Jana, who has not played a minute of college ball, begins the season
hotter than a pistol, but I won't be overly disappointed if it takes a while for her to get going.

Puts me in the mind of how everyone is going on and on about Sarah Strong too. At least Jana has practiced a lot against the other Huskies.
Now Sarah might become a great college player, I hope and pray she will, but I need to see her against college competition before I anoint her as a starter.
Geno has seen a lot more of Jana than he has Sarah on the practice court and in international play so he has a better feel on how good Jana will be against college girls.

 

[jdote33]

Amazing vid. Takeaways: Jana and Ice r both cold. Lol at go under the screen when defending KK. As much as I can debate about which player is better etc, who should start, they really do battle in practice so they probably know what's what. Seems like a connected team.

 

[Bone Dog]

Amazing vid. Takeaways: Jana and Ice r both cold. Lol at go under the screen when defending KK. As much as I can debate about which player is better etc, who should start, they really do battle in practice so they probably know what's what. Seems like a connected team.

It’s a great video. Sweet and quite funny. Toward the beginning the glimpse you get of Jana’s exercise routine suggests she’s fully recovered from her injury.

 

[JRRRJ]

Came across this but wasn't sure it needed it's own thread. Great to see how she's giving back in Egypt.

Love the pom-poms on the bottom of the net ;^)

 

[Bone Dog]

I watched a bunch of Jana's HS games from Cairo (which is not easy to do) and all of her FIBA games and the main takeaway I got from that is Jana playing with skilled perimeter players is going to be awesome. She got as tough as she is because other teams constantly packed the paint against her. She's used to being triple-teamed. That sure aint gonna happen with 3 or more of Paige Azzi Sarah Ash Allie KK Kaitlyn and Q on the floor with her. Playing with the greatest backcourt in D1 is going to unleash Jana.

 

[maple]

Last year when Jana was injured I (foolishly) believed that it would not impact the team that much. But now I definitely am a believer that she is going to be just what UConn needs to finally clinch #12.

 

[tchalla1]

Meeting the standard of Aaliyah Edwards once you arrive to campus would be difficult for any upcoming forward tbh. She’s the solid rock of the team and she’s playing out of position all year too.

I assume Jana has improved greatly since then based on other Geno articles/interviews earlier this year

I think Jana will become better than Edwards--She's Edwards equal offensively, but better defensively and rebounding... She's bigger, longer and stronger...

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I think Jana will become better than Edwards--She's Edwards equal offensively, but better defensively and rebounding... She's bigger, longer and stronger...

I like her, but in fairness to Edwards...Jana will not have to play Edwards minutes with the pieces surrounding her. IMO, Edwards was a 4 that sacrificed her development because we needed a 5. I don't even think Edwards reached her full potential...and she was still very good and for at least 2 if not 3 seasons the consistent piece through injuries. I'll be looking early on to see where Jana plays the most ( 4 or 5), how quickly she adjusts to the college pace and adjust to the refs. She's aggressive and sometimes those players need time to adjust. OR...the team needs game time to adjust to that player. Having said that, she's going to be a problem.

 

[Steelerone]

As soon as she plays her first game against a ranked team I'll start to form an opinion as to what type of player she is and how good she will be. Until then she's a player who has not played one minute against any type of college competition.

 

[Alydar]

Puts me in the mind of how everyone is going on and on about Sarah Strong too. At least Jana has practiced a lot against the other Huskies.
Now Sarah might become a great college player, I hope and pray she will, but I need to see her against college competition before I anoint her as a starter.
Geno has seen a lot more of Jana than he has Sarah on the practice court and in international play so he has a better feel on how good Jana will be against college girls.

You have a rational view. Some fans were equally rational when Bueckers hadn't played a minute with more than a few saying they needed to see her play.
While necessity led to 2 freshmen starting last year they showed me that freshmen can be significant contributors.

 

[HopJim]

Most true basketball fans wait to see how a new player, who is coming back from a major injury, can contribute. I personally feel Jana will be one of the top bigs in the US but will need some time to get in rhythm. Not sure I buy all these prognostications that have her dominating out of the box. All I care about is that she gains confidence and uses it in the NCAA playoffs.

 

[Majic Hands]

I think Jana will become better than Edwards--She's Edwards equal offensively, but better defensively and rebounding... She's bigger, longer and stronger...

I personally wouldn’t be disparaging comparing Jana against Aaliyah. Aaliyah was a 4 playing as a 5 against the toughest schedule GA could get.

As much as I’m excited about Jana actually checking into a game. She has never checked in at UConn. Hopefully Jana can perform at a high level as a 5 for UConn. Perhaps, even pulling the big girls out because she’s a threat out to the 3? Don’t know. Jana has never checked into a game.

IMO Aaliyah only had one off year and that was as a sophomore.

I actually have felt bad for her. Spending 4 years playing out of position. Going pro playing in her natural position and on day one is 4 years behind. But, I’m confident that if she wants to climb a mountain… She will.

 

[pvdoggy]

Jana is intense!

 

[Majic Hands]

Jana is intense!

​

 

[Bone Dog]

Jana is intense!

She’s “Big Nika.” That’s what we should call her.

 

[Geew1992]

Amazing vid. Takeaways: Jana and Ice r both cold. Lol at go under the screen when defending KK. As much as I can debate about which player is better etc, who should start, they really do battle in practice so they probably know what's what. Seems like a connected team.

my question is… was it Aubrey or yana running?? Either one is a good sign

 

[Majic Hands]

She’s “Big Nika.” That’s what we should call her.

I was thinking along those lines as well…
Nika, just a whole lot bigger!

 

[Dugway]

my question is… was it Aubrey or yana running?? Either one is a good sign

Looks like Patterson’s on the Red Team and Griffin’s on the Black Team.

 

[Dugway]

I saw some YouTube short clip, TicToc or some dang thing, where they were at the apartment goofing around. Aubrey was dancing, doing some squat moves and I thought, “Don’t you dare Hurt Yourself!”

 

[Cuango]

I’m so excited at the sheer size of Jana! What a luxury to finally have a player that is big & strong enough to where she’s able to bang with anyone we’re likely to face! Add to that the fact that she is highly skilled, aggressive, and desperately wants to be good, and you’ve got a player who could make us forget these past few years of undersized frontcourts struggling against superior size and numbers.
Another thing that made me sit up and take notice, was how good Ice Brady is looking! She looks fitter, quicker and much more assured in the (admittedly) limited video I’ve seen of her. Sometimes I forget that she was the #5 rated player in her class and the second best big. (After Betts) I think we’re going to see her come into her own this season and remind us all just how good she is! I love that she’s a lefty! I’m not sure why, but I really like that about her!
I’ll spare you all any more breathless superlatives about Sarah as I think I’ve already made my position on that subject quite clear. Let’s just say this, our front-court no longer needs to game-plan from an inferior position! As long as we can stay healthy, I believe our front-court is going to force other teams to game-plan for us! Go Huskies!

 

[Bone Dog]

… and you’ve got a player who could make us forget these past few years of undersized frontcourts struggling against superior size and numbers.

I’m totally with you on this. The days of undersized frontcourts are over. I may not be a “true” fan, so I won’t claim Jana is going to be great right away. There’s going to be a learning curve. But she really wants to be great. You can’t miss this about her. And she wants everyone else to be great too.

Your post made me think of SC in Boston’s first two seasons — before Kamila — and nobody thought they were undersized. And their frontcourt consisted of Boston at 6’5” and Saxton at 6’2”. Amihere at 6’4” was really a wing not 4 or a 5. Boston and Saxton were strong and couldn’t be outmuscled. That’s what made them big and not merely being tall.

This season, as Jana learns her craft, Geno will have her at 6’5” along with Ice at 6’3”. That’s plenty big enough. Add in a bunch of strong 6’2” players and Geno has a lineup that’s as big as it needs to be. They aren’t all as strong as Jana and Ice, though Ayanna surely is, and they have a lot offensive craftiness.

The first time Jana pulls out her up-and-under move in the low post, I predict we’ll all be left gasping. Or barrels down the lane on a layup. Or rips a rebound away from an opposing big. Or scares the living daylights out of an opposing guard on a high hedge. Paige and KK and Kaitlyn and Sarah are going to love finding creative ways to get her the ball in the half court offense.

Cameron Brink was pretty good as a freshman but she was great as a sophomore. Part of her success was due to how good Stanford’s perimeter shooters were. As Rebecca Lobo commented at the time, “she always has a clean lane.” Picture Jana with a clean lane.

This is why I predict Jana will start in November. She’ll make a ton of mistakes, get lots of fouls called on her, miss defensive switches, struggle with her outside shot. In January, once the conference schedule is underway, she’ll have lots of opportunities to find her confidence and hone her skills.

Geno has 80 minutes to give to Jana Ice Sarah and Ayanna. I predict that by March Jana will regularly get 30 of them. He’ll want her on the floor not merely because she’s big. It will be like with Nika: “the team is better with her in the lineup.” He’ll want to have her fire out there as much as possible.

 

[cancontent]

I personally wouldn’t be disparaging comparing Jana against Aaliyah. Aaliyah was a 4 playing as a 5 against the toughest schedule GA could get.

As much as I’m excited about Jana actually checking into a game. She has never checked in at UConn. Hopefully Jana can perform at a high level as a 5 for UConn. Perhaps, even pulling the big girls out because she’s a threat out to the 3? Don’t know. Jana has never checked into a game.

IMO Aaliyah only had one off year and that was as a sophomore.

I actually have felt bad for her. Spending 4 years playing out of position. Going pro playing in her natural position and on day one is 4 years behind. But, I’m confident that if she wants to climb a mountain… She will.

I get the sentiment but I don't think she's 4 years behind. Yes she played out of position but she's worked being a 4 with Canada Basketball and her shooting range improved while at UConn. Being drafted by the Mystics also helps when compared to other rosters because of the time she's getting on the court and the players she gets to train with.

I'm looking forward to seeing Jana on the court too. She's a smart and passionate player with a well rounded game coming into Storrs. With guards like the ones on this roster, the inside-out and pick-and-roll action should be a lot of fun to watch.